
8.
What message did John preach?
Matt. 3:1-3; Luke 3:1-6. Compare Isa.
40:3-8.
NOTE.—"It was God's message that he
was to declare. It was in God's power and
His righteousness that he was to stand. He
was ready to go forth as Heaven's mes-
senger, unawed by the human, because he
had looked upon the Divine. He could
stand fearless in the presence of earthly
monarchs because with trembling he had
bowed before the King of
kings."—Testi-
monies,
vol. 8, pp. 331, 332.
"With no elaborate arguments or fine-
spun theories did John declare his mes-
sage. Startling and stern, yet full of hope,
his voice was heard from the wilderness:
`Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is
at hand.' Matthew 3:2. With a new, strange
power it moved the people. The whole
nation was stirred. Multitudes flocked to
the wilderness. . . .
"In this age, just prior to the second
coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven,
such a work as that of John is to be done.
God calls for men who will prepare a peo-
ple to stand in the great day of the Lord.
The message preceding the public ministry
of Christ was: 'Repent, publicans and sin-
ners; repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; "re-
pent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand."' As a people who believe in Christ's
soon appearing, we have a message to bear
—Prepare to meet thy God.' Amos 4:12.
Our message must be as direct as was the
message of John. He rebuked kings for
their iniquity. Notwithstanding that his
life was imperiled, he did not hesitate to
declare God's word. And our work in
this age must be done as faithfully."—
Ibid.,
pp. 332, 333.
9.
How did John show selflessness
in his witness for Christ? John 3:
25-30.
NOTE.—"Looking in faith to the Re-
deemer, John had risen to the height of
self-abnegation. He sought not to attract
men to himself, but to lift their thoughts
higher and still higher, until they should
rest upon the Lamb of God. He himself
had been only a voice, a cry in the wilder-
ness. Now with joy he accepted silence
and obscurity, that the eyes of all might
be turned to the Light of life.
"Those who are true to their calling as
messengers for God will not seek honor
for themselves. Love for self will be swal-
lowed up in love for Christ. They will
recognize that it is their work to proclaim,
as did John the Baptist: 'Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.' John 1:29. They will lift up Jesus,
and with
Him
humanity will be lifted up."
—Testimonies,
vol. 8, pp. 333, 334.
10.
How did John bear witness to
the Saviour's mission? John 3:31-36.
NOTE.—"The soul of the prophet, emp-
tied of self, was filled with the light of the
Divine. In words that were almost a coun-
terpart of the words of Christ Himself, he
bore witness to the Saviour's glory. 'He
that cometh from above,' he said, 'is above
all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and
speaketh of the earth: He that cometh
from heaven is above all. . . . For He
whom God hath sent speaketh the words
of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by
measure unto Him.' John 3:31-34.
"In this glory of Christ all His followers
are to share. The Saviour could say: 'I
seek not Mine own will, but the will of the
Father which hath sent Me.' John 5:30.
`And,' declared John, 'the Father giveth
not the Spirit by measure unto Him.' So
with the followers of Christ. We can re-
ceive of heaven's light only as we are
willing to be emptied of self. We can dis-
cern the character of God, and accept Christ
by faith, only as we consent to the bring-
ing into captivity of every thought to the
obedience of Christ. To all who do this,
the Holy Spirit is given without measure.
In Christ `dwelleth all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in
Him' Colossians 2:9,
10."—Testimonies,
vol. 8, p. 334.
The Elijah Message
11.
What did the angel of the Lord
prophesy of John's life and service?
Luke 1:13-17.
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